A first-time homeowner's guide to buying home insurance...Buying your first home is a big step –...

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Transcript of A first-time homeowner's guide to buying home insurance...Buying your first home is a big step –...

Page 1: A first-time homeowner's guide to buying home insurance...Buying your first home is a big step – and there are probably more pressing things on your mind than your home insurance.
Page 2: A first-time homeowner's guide to buying home insurance...Buying your first home is a big step – and there are probably more pressing things on your mind than your home insurance.

i.

Preamble

Buying your first home is a big step – and there are probably more

pressing things on your mind than your home insurance. That said, it is

really important that you speak with a home insurance provider once you

have a firm closing date.

As you will learn in this guide, a lender will not release your mortgage

funds until they first receive a confirmation of home insurance from you.

If you are fortunate enough not to have a mortgage, there are still several

good reasons to have insurance protection for your home.

This guide also explains the process of getting a quote and personalizing

coverage to your needs. And, it describes to you the steps in buying a

policy. Finally, the guide provides information on making changes to your

policy and reporting claims on losses you may suffer.

Congratulations on becoming a first-time homeowner! We hope you find

this guide to be useful. And, we look forward to providing you with a free

home insurance quote either online at squareoneinsurance.ca or by

phone at 1.855.331.6933.

Published in 2015 by Square One Insurance Services Inc. (Square One), Suite 1218, PO Box

11600, 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 4N8, Canada.

Special thanks to Alan Senneker as he prepared this guide. Alan is a member of Square

One's sales and service delivery team. He holds a general insurance license in the Canadian

provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

© 2015 Square One Insurance Services Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this guide may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means

without the written permission of Square One. The SQUARE ONE INSURANCE LOGO is a

Canadian registered trade-mark of Square One.

Page 3: A first-time homeowner's guide to buying home insurance...Buying your first home is a big step – and there are probably more pressing things on your mind than your home insurance.

ii.

Table of contents

Why buy home insurance? ...................................................................... 1

Your largest investment ................................................................................ 1

Mortgage protection ...................................................................................... 1

Peace of mind ................................................................................................. 2

Getting a quote ......................................................................................... 3

You and other applicants .............................................................................. 3

Your home's location ..................................................................................... 4

Your home's use ............................................................................................. 5

Your home's construction and features ...................................................... 6

Personalizing your protection .............................................................. 13

Core coverage ............................................................................................... 13

Specialty property coverage ....................................................................... 14

Optional coverage ........................................................................................ 15

Policy deductibles ......................................................................................... 16

Buying your policy .................................................................................. 17

Review coverage limits and options .......................................................... 17

Confirm policy deductibles ......................................................................... 17

Enter policy start date .................................................................................. 17

Enter name and address of lender ............................................................ 17

Enter payment information ........................................................................ 18

Review policy documents ............................................................................ 18

Getting help after you buy .................................................................... 19

Retrieving policy documents ....................................................................... 19

Updating payment information .................................................................. 19

Making policy changes ................................................................................. 19

Reporting claims ........................................................................................... 20

Where to find answers........................................................................... 21

Page 4: A first-time homeowner's guide to buying home insurance...Buying your first home is a big step – and there are probably more pressing things on your mind than your home insurance.

1.

Why buy home insurance?

So, you are about to buy your first home. Congratulations! This is likely to

be your most significant lifetime purchase. By now your realtor or

mortgage broker may have told you that you will need to purchase

insurance for your new investment. And, you will probably have lots of

questions. Why do I need insurance? How do I know what I need? What

does it cover? And how long will it take? These are some of the questions

we will answer in this guide.

Your largest investment

As your most prized and valuable investment, you will want to protect

your home against damage from unforeseen events such as fire, water

damage, windstorms and theft. If you are like most first time buyers, you

will have secured financing to purchase your home. And, since your new

home is the security against the amount of the loan, the lender wants to

know that the home will be repaired or replaced if loss or damage occurs.

If you are in the fortunate position of not having a mortgage for your first

home, then consider this: what would be the cost of not purchasing

coverage to protect your home? Could you afford to repair the home

should large losses occur, or to rebuild it if total replacement was

required? Most people would not be in this position.

Mortgage protection

At minimum, the lender will want to have proof that your new home is

insured up to the amount of the mortgage. It is more common now that

lenders will insist on "guaranteed replacement" coverage. Guaranteed

replacement, in the event of a total loss, will rebuild your home with a

new one of the same size, quality of build and with the same features.

Some lenders are also starting to require that homes in higher risk areas

be insured against earthquake damage.

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2.

As part of the closing process, your notary or lawyer will likely request an

insurance binder or confirmation of insurance, which proves you have

insurance on that property. This document typically includes:

The location of the home insured.

The rebuild value of the home as calculated by the insurance provider.

Whether or not the policy is subject to guaranteed replacement.

The name and address of the lender.

Peace of mind

What it all boils down to is peace of mind. Peace of mind that your biggest

investment will be taken care of should something unforeseen happen to

your home. Peace of mind as well, for those with a financial interest in

your home, knowing that their interests are also fully protected.

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3.

Getting a quote

Buying insurance for your new home with Square One is just a call or a

click away. Either way it only takes about 15 minutes. For a more personal

experience, contact one of our qualified home insurance agents by calling

1.855.331.6933. If you prefer the online experience, simply navigate to

squareoneinsurance.ca and start by entering the address of your new

home. You will then be prompted with a few simple questions about you,

and a series of questions about your home. All this information will help

determine the right price to protect your home.

Your insurance policy is a contract. And under the contract, your home

insurance provider agrees to repair or replace your home, as it was just

before the loss, subject to certain facts and conditions. As the homeowner,

you will want to be sure the information included in your policy is factually

correct so there is no gap in coverage should you ever have to make a

claim. The questions are intended to get an accurate picture of the home

that is being protected.

The most common underwriting questions asked are listed in the sections

that follow. In some cases, your answers to the questions will affect

whether or not Square One can insure you. In other cases, the answers

may affect the rate you are charged or deductibles you are offered.

You and other applicants

You will be asked some basic information about yourself, starting with

your name, the best phone number at which to contact you, and your

year of birth. We do not need to know the actual day but by asking the

year we can then calculate if you are eligible for any age-related discounts.

We will also ask for your email address. Since we are a fully electronic

company, we do not send your quote or policy documents by mail, but

rather by email. This saves paper, time, and money. And, we pass on

these savings to you in the form of lower premiums.

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4.

Two other questions you will be asked are:

Do you currently have an active home (or tenant) insurance policy?

If you have had previous insurance, your premium may be lower. That

is because you may qualify for any claims free discounts included in

our pricing.

In the past 5 years, has a home insurance provider: (1) cancelled your

policy; (2) refused to renew your policy; or, (3) imposed conditions on

your policy?

If any of these situations have occurred, you need to tell us. Perhaps it

was simply because they no longer wrote business in the area in

which you live, or it could be due to the number of claims you have

had. This could have a bearing on whether another company can

insure you, and if so, what rate to charge.

Your home's location

Having the correct address for your home is critical. For established

neighborhoods, this is pretty easy. But for new areas under development

there may be some uncertainty as to what your proper address is. Our

system connects with Canada Post to verify the address of your location.

If it is not found, you may need to consult your realtor or developer to

confirm the location's address as it is registered with land titles.

At Square One, we focus on insuring homes in fully fire protected areas.

By this we mean that there must be a fire hydrant within 300 meters of

your home and a responding fire hall within 8 kilometers.

In addition to your current address, you will also be asked for your

previous address. As part of the quotation, the system will automatically

check, by using your name and previous address, to see if you have had

any prior claims. This may affect your rates or deductibles. In some cases,

your claims history may affect whether or not we can offer coverage at all.

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5.

Your home's use

When insuring your home, it is important you describe when and how

your home will be occupied. Questions that will be asked include:

Is this your primary residence, or is it a rental or vacation property?

How the home is used will affect the premium and policy deductibles.

It is important to state the correct occupancy to ensure there are no

gaps in coverage at the time of a loss.

Is the home under construction? Or, is it unoccupied and undergoing

major renovations?

If so, you will need to tell us who is doing the work. And, you will need

to confirm that all contractors and trades are licensed and carry both

workers' compensation and commercial general liability coverage.

Is the home intended to be vacant?

Homes that are vacant present a different kind of risk to the insurance

company. Coverage may or may not be offered on vacant homes.

When it is offered, there are almost always some coverage exclusions

during the vacancy.

Do you share any part of your home with roomers or boarders?

A roomer or boarder is someone who rents a room in your home, and

shares other parts of the home with you. None of their belongings are

covered in your home policy. They would need to obtain their own

tenants policy.

Is there a rental suite in the home?

If so, you will need to confirm that you have a rental agreement in

place with your tenant. And, we will want to ensure there are separate

entrances for each family living in your home.

Do you participate in home sharing programs, like home exchanges or

short-term rentals?

If so, you are allowing strangers into your home. As such, insurance

providers may consider this a slightly higher risk. There may be some

adjustments made to your policy to accommodate this.

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Does anyone conduct a business from the home?

If you are operating any sort of business from your home, you may

need extra protection. You'll need to tell us if the business involves

the application of heat, the use of any specialized tools, or whether

you have any employees, among other things. Depending on the type

of business, you could be at an increased risk of a loss. For instance,

there is a higher fire risk if you use a welder in your garage.

Your home's construction and features

With Square One, you get guaranteed replacement coverage on your

home. Guaranteed replacement coverage means that we will guarantee

to repair or rebuild your home as it was before the loss or damage, with

the same size, quality, and features even if the cost is higher than your

policy limit. To offer this guarantee, there are some conditions you need

to meet. But to start, we need an accurate description of your home as it

is today to determine the cost to rebuild it.

Please understand that rebuild value is not the same as the price you may

have paid for your home. The rebuild value is simply what we estimate it

would cost us to replace your home with one of the same size and quality

on the same piece of land. Because the cost of materials and price of

labor vary depending on region, the cost to rebuild a home of similar size

and description can differ dramatically by area. Also, when rebuilding

your home, we will not have access to volume discounts and time value

discounts that the builder may have received on the initial build.

The first set of questions that you'll be asked about your home includes:

Year built

Construction type (wood frame, brick or concrete)

Type of roof (asphalt, wood, tile or other)

Number of floors

Size of main living areas

Size of basement areas (finished and unfinished)

Number of bathrooms

Number of fireplaces (gas or wood burning)

Size of decks or patios

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Size of attached garages or carports

Type of swimming pool

Detached structures (garage, sheds, gazebos or carriage houses)

The second set of questions gathers information about your home's

features, which may affect the risk of loss or damage. Questions include:

Does the home's exterior show signs of: (1) rotting wood; (2) peeling

paint; or, (3) deteriorating bricks, siding and stucco?

If your home is in need of repair, we may want to discuss your plans,

before we can provide a policy.

If the home is older, is it a designated heritage property?

If you own a designated heritage property, you have special insurance

needs and we can meet those needs.

Does the home have functioning gutters and downspouts?

Water damage is one of the major types of loss in Canada. One easy

way to prevent water damage to your home is to ensure your gutters

and downspouts are cleaned regularly, and are directed away from

your home's foundation. If your home does not have gutters and

downspouts, the roof should have overhangs of 24 inches or more.

When was the roof on the home last replaced?

The risk of ice, snow or water damage increases as your home's roof

ages. Different roof types have different life expectancies, which could

range from 10 to 80 years. The most common roof types are shown

below. If your roof is nearing its life expectancy, it may be time to look

at replacing it. If the roof is older, you will be asked about its condition.

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Has there ever been any ice damming on the home's roof?

An ice dam is a thick band of ice that can form around the edges of

your roof and can prevent water from properly draining from your

roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into the home,

and cause damage to the roof, walls, ceilings, insulation, etc.

Ice damming can be caused by improper insulation in your attic. This

can occur if the attic has been converted to finished living space.

Homes should have at least 12 inches (38 R-value) of insulation in the

home's attic or between the home's ceiling and its roof.

Is the home built on a continuous concrete foundation?

Newer homes are built on continuous concrete foundations, but if you

live in an older home, it may have a brick or stone foundation. These

types of foundations require more maintenance than their concrete

counterparts. So, you will be asked questions about waterproofing

and previous water damage if the foundation is not concrete.

Is the home's basement a walkout (accessible from the outside)? Are

there window wells around any basement windows?

All basement exterior doors and/or window wells should have proper

drainage to prevent water pooling, and leaking into the home.

What type of wiring does the home have?

Copper: Copper has one of the highest

electrical conductivity rates amongst metals.

That is why it is the standard type of wiring

used in modern homes.

Aluminum wiring: Homes built between 1966

and 1974 often have aluminum wiring. If so,

you will need to remove the outlet or switch

cover to see if you can find the "CO/ALR"

marking. This marking indicates that the

connectors are suited to the wiring.

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9.

Knob and tube: Homes built until the 1960s

may have knob and tube wiring. The name

comes from the insulator knobs used to keep

the wires isolated from objects and the

ceramic tubes used to line holes through

wooden floor joists. Because knob and tube

wiring has no ground wire, it is not well suited

for today's high electrical usage.

Does the home have at least 100 AMP electrical service?

Newer homes tend to have 100 or 200 AMP service. Some older

homes may only have 60 AMP service. Homes with less than 100 AMP

service are not well suited for today's high electrical usage.

What type of electrical panel does the home have?

Circuit breakers: If your home has this type

of panel, you will see a main switch that

controls power to the entire house. You will

also see individual breakers that are

responsible for providing the electricity to

various parts of your home. If a circuit is

overloaded, the breaker will trip and shut off

the power, preventing overheating and fires.

Fuses: If you do live in a house still controlled

by "fuses", you will not see any levers, but

instead you will have screw-in fuses. If a fuse is

overloaded, it must be replaced. You must be

careful to replace fuses with ones of equal

capacity otherwise the risk of overheating and

fire increases. You may have difficulty getting

insurance, or you may have to pay a higher

rate, if your home has fuses.

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10.

What type of plumbing does your home have?

Copper: Most homes have copper plumbing. In

fact, up until the mid-1970s, virtually all hot and

cold-water distribution plumbing was copper.

This type of plumbing requires very little

maintenance since joint fittings do not usually

break down or pull apart.

PEX: Since the late-1990s, cross-linked

polyethylene (PEX) pipes have become very

common because it is easy to install and more

affordable than copper. Usually, red tubing

indicates hot water supply lines and blue

tubing indicates cold water supply lines.

KITEC: The KITEC plumbing system was a type

of PEX system sold in Canada between 1995

and 2007. It consists of blue and orange

flexible piping and brass fittings. There are two

common problems with this type of plumbing.

First, the orange pipes are not certified for

water hotter than 180 degrees Fahrenheit, but

hot water tanks can run hotter than this.

Second, the brass fittings tend to corrode,

causing blockages and leaks.

Many insurance providers will refuse to insure

your home with this type of plumbing. You

may be able to get coverage from Square One,

but certain conditions may be imposed.

Poly-B: Homes built between the late-1970s

and the late-1980s, may have Polybutylene

(Poly-B) plumbing. Many insurance providers

view this as a hazard, and will refuse to insure

your home. We realize it can represent a

higher risk, but we may insure your home.

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11.

Galvanized steel: Prior to 1960, galvanized

steel pipes were installed in many homes.

These pipes have an average life expectancy of

40 to 50 years. Over time, they begin to rust or

corrode from the inside out, resulting in

reduced pressure and restricted flow. This

presents an increased risk of leaks or ruptures

and the potential for flood damage.

Does your home have a hot water tank? If so, how old is it?

Hot water tank: For homes with hot water

tanks, we will want to know the age and

condition of the tank. If you are not sure how

old your tank is, you may be able to find out by

checking the serial number. The first 4 digits

indicate the month and year.

Tankless: If your home has a tankless water

heater, this type of information will not be

necessary. Just indicate "tankless".

Does the home have a sump pump?

A sump pump removes water that has accumulated in a water-

collecting sump basin. Sump pumps are important in preventing

water damage in homes with basements. If your home has a sump

pump, we will need to know how old it is and if it has auxiliary power,

like a backup battery or generator.

Has a backwater valve been installed in the home?

A backwater valve prevents sewage in an overloaded municipal sewer

line from backing up into your basement. The valve automatically

closes if sewage backs up. If one has been installed, you will see a

lower premium on your home insurance policy. In some case, you

may face a higher deductible for sewer losses until a valve is installed.

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12.

Does the home have any Crane toilets that were part of the original

construction?

Crane toilets manufactured between 1980 and 1991 have been known

to crack and cause considerable water damage to the homes in which

they were installed. It is highly recommended that you replace any

Crane toilets manufactured during this time period.

Does the home have a working alarm system that is activated

regularly?

Having a working intrusion alarm could help to prevent break-ins. This

could mean lower insurance rates for you.

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13.

Personalizing your protection

Before reviewing your coverage and deductible options, it is important to

know that Square One offers a comprehensive protection. This means it

insures against all types of loss except for what is specifically excluded.

The most common exclusions are war, terrorism and overland flooding.

Where other providers require you to specifically add and pay extra for

critical protection you need, we include it automatically. For example, your

Square One home insurance policy automatically includes protection for:

Broad water damage

Sewer backup damage

Windstorm and hail damage

Earthquake damage

Core coverage

The most common house insurance covers are listed below. For each

cover, we will help you determine what limit of insurance is right for you.

Unlike our competitors, you are not forced to buy unneeded protection.

Building

Protects the main structure of your house as well as attached garages,

swimming pools, and hot tubs. With our policy, you are covered even if it

costs more to rebuild your house than it is insured for. We also offer

unlimited protection against cost increases from bylaw changes – most

other insurance policies limit this to as little as $10,000.

Personal property

Protects all the "moveable" property you own, except some types of

specialty property for which you can buy additional coverage. Personal

property includes appliances, clothing, electronics, household goods, and

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14.

furniture. Download a home inventory checklist from Square One's

website to help determine the limit of insurance needed.

Additional living expenses

Protects against increases in living expenses you incur because your

house can not be lived in, such as the cost to stay in a hotel temporarily.

This could be as a result of damage to your house from an insured loss, or

an order to evacuate your house due to a sudden and accidental event.

Personal and premises liability

Protects you against amounts you are legally responsible to pay because

you unintentionally injure someone else or damage their property. Most

homeowners find that $1 million is sufficient for them, but if you have a

unique risk, such as a pool in your yard, or frequent visitors to your home,

you may want to consider increased liability coverage.

Specialty property coverage

Traditional policies provide too much protection for china, silverware, and

furs, and not enough for cameras, computers, and cell phones. At Square

One, electronics are insured as personal property, without pesky sub-

limits. As for specialty property, you can choose what to insure and you

do so on a blanket basis. That means if you own 3 pieces of jewellery,

each worth $5,000, you can simply select a $15,000 limit for jewellery and

watches. Choose from the following categories of specialty property:

Bicycles and sporting equipment

Business property

China, silverware and furs

Fine art, collectibles and oriental rugs

Jewellery and watches

Musical instruments

Watercraft

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15.

Optional coverage

You may also want to add the following optional covers to your Square

One house insurance policy:

Detached structures

Protects any other structures within your property lines, like detached

garages, sheds, gazebos, and carriage homes.

Landscaping, fences, and gardening equipment

Protects all trees, shrubs, lawns, fences, retaining walls, rockeries, and

almost anything else that improves the curb appeal of your house. Also

protects lawnmowers, trimmers, snow blowers, and other gardening

equipment.

Landlord's property

Protects any property you own that is located in a rented portion of your

house. Of course, this is only necessary if you have a rental suite in your

house or the home is a rental property.

Rental income

Protects against the loss of rental income you face because your home

can not be lived in due to an insured loss.

Identity theft and financial loss

Protects against financial losses you suffer, and expenses you incur,

because your identity was stolen.

Legal protection

Provides unlimited access to a legal advice helpline and in some cases

covers legal expenses you incur.

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16.

Policy deductibles

A deductible is the portion of an insured loss that you must pay before

your home insurance policy will respond. Selecting a higher deductible is

one of the easiest ways to reduce your premium. Plus, by not claiming the

small stuff, you will protect your claims free discount. This discount could

easily total 20% or more. So, consider taking a $1,000 or $2,500 deductible

and pocket the savings.

Earthquake deductible

Depending on where the home is located, you may get to choose from a

few different earthquake deductible options. The options are based on a

percentage of the total limit of property coverage under your house

insurance policy.

Sewer backup deductible

Depending where the home is located, a sewer backup deductible may

apply. This deductible may range from $2,500 to $25,000. For homes in

higher risk areas, the installation of a backwater valve may reduce this

deductible amount.

Wind and hail deductible

Depending where the home is located, a wind and hail deductible may

apply. This deductible may be $2,500 or $5,000.

Crime deductible

If the home is a rental house, or if you share part of your primary home

with others, there will be a separate deductible for crime losses. The

amount of the deductible depends on the type of rental arrangement.

Standard policy deductible

This deductible applies to all types of losses unless otherwise noted above.

Depending on eligibility, standard deductible options range from $500 to

$5,000. Most people select a $1,000 or $2,500 standard deductible.

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Buying your policy

Once you have received your quote, you may need time to review it.

Whether you began your quote with an agent by phone or on our website,

a copy of the quote will be sent to the email address you provided. Not

only is this more convenient, it is also more environmentally friendly. And

the savings of not having to print and mail documents are passed on to

you in the form of lower premiums.

If you decide to purchase from Square One, simply call 1.855.331.6933 or

click on the link within your quote email. The final steps of the purchase

process follow.

Review coverage limits and options

Make sure you have included coverage for all the basic property and

specialty items you may own, and add any optional covers you need.

Confirm policy deductibles

Consider the higher savings on your policy when you choose higher

deductible amounts.

Enter policy start date

It is important that the policy start date be the same as the closing date

when you are purchasing a home, since you are responsible for loss or

damage to your home right away, even if you are not moving in on that

day. If you are not going to occupy the home immediately, you must be

sure to disclose that in the quote process.

Enter name and address of lender

The bank or institution that provided funds for your mortgage has a

financial interest in your home and needs to appear on the insurance.

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18.

Most of the time, larger lenders will have an address for their central

lending office. Smaller and private lenders often require the address

where you secured the loan to appear on the insurance.

Enter payment information

With Square One you can pay monthly or annually from your bank

account or credit card. You can use your Visa, MasterCard or American

Express credit cards. You can also use Visa Debit. For payments from bank

accounts, you will need to provide the transit number, institution number,

and the full account number. These numbers can be found on the bottom

of a cheque or on a pre-authorized debit (PAD) form from your bank.

Review policy documents

Once you complete the purchase, you will receive your policy documents

by email almost immediately. The main document consists of:

Policy declaration: This describes covers and deductibles chosen,

premium details, and your application with answers provided to the

underwriting questions.

Policy wordings: This includes a customized description of your

coverage and exclusions.

You may also receive a confirmation of insurance (if you have a mortgage

on your home) and pre-authorized debit agreement (if you are paying

from your bank account).

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19.

Getting help after you buy

Looking for a copy of your policy? Need to make a change? Or, perhaps

you have suffered a loss and need to report a claim. Information on all

these tasks follows.

Retrieving policy documents

If you have misplaced your Square One home insurance policy, you can

always get the most up-to-date copy by visiting squareoneinsurance.ca

and logging in to your online account. Or if you prefer, call 1.855.331.6933

or email [email protected] and we will email you

another copy.

Updating payment information

With Square One, you can update your payment frequency or method at

any time. You can either call 1.855.331.6933 or log in to your online

account by visiting squareoneinsurance.ca.

Making policy changes

Things in your life are constantly changing. It is really important to discuss

these changes with your insurance provider promptly. Please notify us

immediately if there are any changes to your home or its use. For

example, you must notify us if your home is undergoing renovations or it

is temporarily vacant. If you fail to notify us of changes, your policy may

become void and your right to recover under it may be forfeited.

To make changes to your policy, you may first want to log in to your

online account by visiting squareoneinsurance.ca. That is because you can

make a wide range of changes on your own, 24 hours a day. Or, call

1.855.331.6933 or email [email protected] and

one of our licensed agents will assist you.

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20.

Reporting claims

Square One provides emergency claims assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days

a week. Call 1.855.331.6933 and press option 2 when prompted. Or report

your claim online by visiting squareoneinsurance.ca and logging in to your

online account.

Once your claim is reported, an adjuster will reach you by phone to verify

the loss and determine if your claim requires a site visit. Some claims can

be adjusted over the phone, but others require an experienced adjuster

to inspect the loss or damage and determine what policy coverage may

apply. If you are in an emergency situation, our best practice is to have an

adjuster reach you within two hours.

To learn more about the claims process, and to find answer to common

claims-related questions, visit squareoneinsurance.ca/support.

Page 24: A first-time homeowner's guide to buying home insurance...Buying your first home is a big step – and there are probably more pressing things on your mind than your home insurance.

21.

Where to find answers

Often first-time homeowners are not sure how or where to find answers

to the questions asked as part of the home insurance quotation. Many of

the answers can be found via:

Your realtor

The existing homeowner

A pre-sale home inspection report

Some answers may not be found until you take occupancy. In these cases,

you can usually get a home insurance policy, but it may be subject to a

slightly higher rate or deductible to account for what is unknown. When

you take occupancy and inspect these items for yourself, simply call to

update your policy. In some situations, systems or features of your home

may require updating or replacement to continue coverage at all.

As a new homeowner, it is suggested that you become familiar with basic

home maintenance. Not only will this protect your investment, but it may

also uncover potential concerns before they become a claim. While there

are many good websites about home maintenance, we recommend you

start with ours. Visit squareoneinsurance.ca/support to read a range of

articles, including our "Getting to know your home" series.

Congratulations once again on becoming a first-time homeowner! We

look forward to becoming your home insurance provider in the very near

future. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

1.855.331.6933

squareoneinsurance.ca